France May 2013: Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 intrigue

The Renault Captur is already knocking at the French Top 10’s door…

* NOW UPDATED with ACTUALS for the Top 125 models and Top 20 brands! See title *

Compared to the rest of 2013, the French market is not getting worse, but it’s not getting any better either at -10% year-on-year in May to 148,554 registrations, the lowest May figure since 1999. The year-to-date total now stands at 740,185 units, down 12% or 100,000 units on 2012. After 3 consecutive months of Renault Clio IV reign and after missing the pole position for just 3 sales last month, the Peugeot 208 is the most popular model in France in May thanks to an excellent 9,166 sales and 6.2% share vs. 7,315 and 4.9% for the Clio IV. This is the 7th time the 208 leads the French models ranking and its 2nd best market share ever in the country below the 6.4% it reached last August. More importantly for Peugeot, the 208 sales mix significantly skewed towards premium versions, with an average price of 18,300 euros even before the launch of the top of the range GTI and XY versions. This is 4,000 euros higher than the segment average and to be compared to 14,300 euros for the 207 at the same time last year.

The Nissan Qashqai is inside the French Top 10 for the 2nd time ever.

Far below the two stars of the market, the Renault Scenic remains in third place at 2.7% while the Dacia Sandero is up 4 ranks to an excellent 4th position at 3,590 units and 2.4%. Thanks to 3,439 sales and 2.3%, the Citroen C4 is up 3 ranks to reach the nameplate’s highest ever ranking at #6, a position it last held over 6 years ago in February 2007! Another exceptional month delivered by the Nissan Qashqai: it is up 9 ranks on last month to lodge its 2nd ever month within the Top 10 after last March at #10 with 3,131 units and 2.1% and its first month as the best-selling foreign model (the VW Golf VII and Polo are outside the Top 10). The Qashqai therefore equals the 2 months the Toyota Yaris spent inside the French Top 10 in January and March 2007.

The Peugeot 2008 makes its first appearance in the Top 30 this month.

Potentially the reason behind the weaker Clio IV performance this month, its small SUV brother the Renault Captur is up a fantastic 9 ranks on April to #13 with 2,660 sales and 1.8%. The Captur is already only 500 units away from the Top 10 which it should break into within the next couple of months. The waiting time for a new Captur is 4 months, with current orders delivered in September. Its Peugeot competitor the 2008 is also starting to make waves: it is up 38 spots to break into the French Top 50, 40 and 30 for the first time at #27 with 1,646 units and 1.1% share. The 2008 goes officially on sale in June and has received 9,000 orders so far so we should see it climb up the ladder further in the coming months.

Chevrolet Trax

In other news, the BMW 3 Series is up 7 ranks on last month to #28, the Audi A3 is up one further spot to #29, the Toyota RAV4 up 29 to #54, Opel Adam up 23 to #77, Renault Zoe down 24 to #83, Mercedes CLA up 9 to #86 and the Chevrolet Trax breaks into the French Top 100 for the first time at #97 with 326 sales and already above its twin the Opel Mokka at 238 units…

Previous post: France 1-27 May 2013: Citroen C4 and Dacia Sandero up

Previous month: France April 2013: 3 units separate Renault Clio IV and Peugeot 208!

One year ago: France May 2012: Podium 100% Renault for the first time in 14 years

Full May 2013 Top 125 models and Top 20 models Ranking Tables below.